PERSPECTIVE: We grieve with family of girl killed in dog attack
Published: October 2, 2009
» The best we can do as a society is to use this tragedy as a lesson and take the proper precautions.
Our hearts go out to the family in Orange County whose toddler was killed by their dog. The story is unfortunately not unique, but the sense of tragedy each story engenders never diminishes.
In this case, the 23-month-old girl wandered from her house and into the backyard where a pet pit bull was kept. No one knows exactly what happened, but the child was mauled and was pronounced dead at the University of Virginia Hospital. There are no easy answers to this tragedy.
Early reports said the mother was distracted when the child wandered outdoors — but how many parents aren’t distracted from time to time? Perfect alertness 24/7 is impossible.
Some critics blame the fact that the dog was reportedly chained, implying that ill treatment contributed to the attack.
We don’t know the circumstances under which this dog might have been restricted, but we do know that attaching a chain to a long overhead wire to create a dog run is an acceptable practice in many rural settings.
Some blame the dog or its breed. But the dog had been a family pet for 10 years without incident.
That said, there are also some common themes to these types of tragedies that deserve attention.
According to DogsBite.org, a public education Web site on dangerous dogs, 23 people in the U.S. were killed in 2008 in dog attacks. Of those, 16 were children. In those 23 cases, 15 child and adult victims were killed by pit bulls. Many attacks are by dogs the victim knows.
This newspaper agrees with those who say that the breed should not be condemned, and we have editorialized against breed-specific bans. But we also advocate common sense. Some breeds, and some individual dogs, demand to be treated with extra caution.
As of this writing, authorities have not said whether they might file charges in the death of the girl.
But whether or not that occurs, we recommend that everyone mix compassion with a strong dose of caution. A tragedy has befallen a local family. And even without laying blame, we can certainly take warning.
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Reader Reactions
Well, if feeling the way I do about these dogs makes me irrational, then I’m irrational. Regardless of the reasons for it, I believe they’re dangerous and I would not want one around my family or my dog, whom I love dearly. I think indiscriminate mistreatment of animals is reprehensible and I would do whatever to prevent it, but that does not mean that I would own one of these dogs, approach one, or even be in the same area with one if I could help it. One of the world’s most innocent has been killed and it was done by one of these dogs. That fact remains. There has to be a solution to this. It is happening much too often.
The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star has a great editorial today ....
(The stats speak for themselves.)
A pit bull…again
Date published: 10/2/2009
ANOTHER vicious pit-bull attack, another life lost. This time it was an Orange County toddler, a 23-month-old little girl who wandered too close to a chained dog and paid—with her life.
In May, a 3-year-old Culpeper boy and his grandmother were mauled by two pit bulls loose in their neighborhood. In 2008, a Fairview Beach toddler sustained serious facial wounds when he approached a neighbor’s chained pit bull. In 2005, 86-year-old Dorothy Sullivan of Partlow was killed in her own yard, along with her little dog, by a neighbor’s pit bulls.
Serious charges, these, against a type of dog many claim is loyal, calm, and an excellent family pet. What’s a responsible society to do? Is it time to ban the breed?
“Pit bull” is a generic term that refers to a dog type rather than to a recognized breed. Of late, they have been overbred, in many cases by people involved in dog-fighting. The result is poor temperaments in some pits; when combined with irresponsible owners and/or a general ignorance of canine behavior the consequences can be devastating.
For many people, the answer is simple: Ban the breed. But one of the problems with that is in defining terms. Is it fair to ban any short-coated, stocky, broad-headed, short-muzzled, pit-bull-type dog, regardless of temperament or history? Denver has tried. So have Prince George’s County, Md., and the United Kingdom.
Denver’s 20-year-old ban on pit bulls has had no impact on dog bites, according to the National Canine Research Council. Prince George’s County spends more than half a million dollars every two years on its pit bull ban, says the American Bar Association, with little effect. Likewise, the 18-year proscription against pit bulls in the UK has failed to reduce dog attacks, leading the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to call for an end to the ban in favor of more effective legislation.
What might that be?
The NCRC studied fatal dog attacks in 2006 and found these commonalities:
97 percent of owners of the dogs involved did not spay or neuter their animals;
84 percent abused, neglected, or chained their dogs;
78 percent of the dogs were not pets—they were guard, breeding, or yard dogs.
The NCRC makes the point that any dog left chained and unsocialized, living separate from the “family pack,“ is a potential threat. They may be “resident dogs” but they are not psychologically integrated “family pets.“ Likewise, The Humane Society’s John Goodwin says we modern humans are simply ignorant of canine behavior—for example, the impact of chaining.
Targeting owners, then, rather than specific breed types is a more logical—and effective—way to combat dog attacks. In the last two years, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has seen a 56 percent decline in aggressive-dog incidents and a 21 percent decline in bites. How? With hefty fines for bad behavior: $350 for one dog bite; $750 if the victim requires medical treatment; and a $250 fine for dog-on-dog attacks or failure to license a dog.
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., have taken an even more proactive approach, enacting strong legislation that puts the onus on owners of “dangerous dogs” and “potentially dangerous dogs” (often nominated for the honor by neighbors) to follow rules for secure fencing and muzzling. Anyone charged more than once with mistreating a dog is banned from owning another one. Along with dog-ownership classes and a “community policing” style of animal control, these measures have dramatically reduced dog bites.
Man’s best friend, when irresponsibly bred, chained, unsocialized, allowed to roam, or used for fighting, poses a danger. It’s time for local officials to consider tough new laws outlawing chaining, allowing identification of potentially dangerous dogs, and targeting poor ownership practices. Dogs play a huge role in our culture—let’s not let it be that of a villain.
Rogersk, until now, I never thought you incapable of rational thought, but apparently the pit bull discussion does something to your brain. ANY dog can bite or even kill. Dogs with greater mass and stronger jaws can do more damage. Pit bulls - and the dogs incorrectly called pit bulls - have become the victims of a criminal element that uses their natural loyalty and intelligence to protect them in their interprises. Some people just like to show off how tough they are with their “big tough dog”. According to your view, Michael Vick’s dogs - the ones that survived - should have been irretrievably vicious. They were not - in fact the ones that didn’t have to be put down were desperate for affection and were gentle to their rescuers. I don’t hear you calling for the extermination of German Sheperds, and there have been plenty of attacks by that breed too. The common denominator is people who have no business owning dogs. And by the way, as I’ve mentioned before, what do you think the dog that followed Spanky and Our Gang around was?
ktlynn…You are spot on…there is no place in society for these killers..Would that our legislators would get busy and enact laws against them..they’re doing it elsewhere..Why not in this state??? I would NEVEr walk up to a pit bull and, sorry, but I would always expect the worst from it.
This morning I’ve had my first experience ever with a pitbull. When my husband went to work this morning, there was a stray pitbull in front of our house. He seemed friendly so I gave him a couple of treats from my dogs and a bowl of water which he drank immediately. Shortly thereafter I went to the gym and upon return, here was the pitbull waiting for me the door, soooo happy to see me. Unfortunately I had to call animal control, since we already have 2 small dogs and no room for a big one.
Animal control came and even though they were able to pet him, he would NOT go to their truck. I walked with him, but we got close to the truck, he reared up on me, as if to say: “Please don’t let them take me.“ Then ran back to the door. The animal control guys said they never saw a stray act this way.
Anyway, enough of my babbling, I’m heartbroken because I couldn’t keep him.
I love dogs, ALL DOGS, and hate people who mistreat them.
There is absolutely nothing you can say about the breed that makes this ok. I am so tired of hearing “ the poor dog this” and” the poor dog that” ! No excuses people ! Enough is enough ! Ban these disgusting creatures ! I would kill every one of them if you let me. Give me the gun !
Personally, I’d charge the couple with animal cruelty.
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